Bucket stand

ABSTRACT

A bucket stand is described herein. The bucket stand has a body for receiving and supporting cylindrical objects such as paint containers. Within the body is a padding for securing the cylindrical objects, so that when a user lifts the cylindrical object, for example, the paint container&#39;s handle, the bucket stand is lifted too. This permits better portability of both objects without having to separate them and carry each individually. Furthermore, the cylindrical object is only temporarily secured within the bucket stand for easy removal of the object when desired. The bucket stand is also able to be further elevated and includes wheels to enable sliding of the stand. Additional padding is utilized to allow various sizes of cylindrical objects to be retained. Some embodiments utilize angled walls, magnets and fasteners to further assist in securing the cylindrical objects within the bucket stand.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of containers. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to the field of bucketstands for receiving containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Buckets and other similar containers serve a primary purpose of storingan object in a closed area, such as paint or other liquids. Depending onthe size of the bucket, it is generally not very easy to move around,nor carry up a ladder. Specifically, a typical sized bucket of paint iscylindrically shaped, has a flat circular bottom and weighs quite a fewpounds. It is difficult or awkward to try to position the bucket ofpaint on a ladder. Even when painting at ground level, since the paintcan or bucket is very short with respect to the height of the painter,it is awkward and strenuous to continuously bend over to reach the paintcan. Furthermore, to simply move the bucket of paint from one side ofthe room to another is difficult due to the heaviness of the bucket andthe concern of spillage since the can is wobbly when held by the handle.There have been many attempts at overcoming the difficulties of movingbuckets around and using them in elevated positions.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,280 to Gresch, discloses a multi-purpose bucketattached to a skirt for elevation. The device is an elevating apparatuswith a one-sized bucket permanently affixed to it. The container iselevated by means of the skirt with only one height possible.Furthermore, slots are provided in the skirt as handholds for moving theskirt and bucket around.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,990 to Temple, discloses a pivoting third leg on thesecond leg of a two-leg container support. A support is provided that isreadily attached and detached from the stand. Flanges are used to allowfor easy attaching and detaching. These flanges must be attached to thecontainer with adhesive or suitable fasteners such as nuts and bolts.The three support legs form a triangular area beneath the container. Allthree legs are required to keep the container support upright. Arelatively small jostle could easily tip the support. Also, the pivotingleg is susceptible to collapse due to even smaller jostles.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,566 to Bonner, discloses a nesting bucket apparatuscapable of expanding and raising the level of the top bucket. Twobuckets are utilized where a track between the buckets allows the innerbucket to be elevated.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,690 to Rutledge, discloses a tripod support forpaint pails and trays where the tripod is a single-height. The supportlegs are held rigidly by angle brackets.

U.S. Pat. No. 196,396 to Sprague and U.S. Pat. No. 2,683,014 to Sumendisclose stools and holders of pails with thin legs as support.Furthermore, they utilize special devices to hold the pail together withthe stand such as bolts or spring-loaded hooks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bucket stand is described herein. The bucket stand has a body forreceiving and supporting cylindrical objects such as paint containers.Within the body is a padding for securing the cylindrical objects, sothat when a user lifts the cylindrical object, for example, the paintcontainer's handle, the bucket stand is lifted too. This permits betterportability of both objects without having to separate them and carryeach individually. Furthermore, the cylindrical object is onlytemporarily secured within the bucket stand for easy removal of theobject when desired. The bucket stand is also able to be furtherelevated and includes wheels to enable sliding of the stand. Additionalpadding is utilized to allow various sizes of cylindrical objects to beretained. Some embodiments utilize angled walls, magnets and fastenersto further assist in securing the cylindrical objects within the bucketstand.

In one aspect, an apparatus for receiving, supporting and elevating apaint container comprises an aperture for receiving the paint containerand a body containing the aperture, wherein the body utilizes frictionto retain the paint container. The apparatus further comprises a paddingcoupled to the body for securing the paint container within the body.The apparatus further comprises a set of additional padding to allowvarying sizes of paint containers to be secured. The apparatus furthercomprises a set of wheels for sliding the body. The set of wheels extendto adjust the height of the body. The apparatus further comprises amechanism for adjusting the height of the body. The apparatus furthercomprises one or more magnets coupled to the body for assisting insecuring the paint container within the body. The apparatus furthercomprises one or more fasteners for assisting in securing the paintcontainer within the body. The paint container and the body are able tobe separated after the paint container is received. The paint containerand the body are carried together using a handle of the paint container.The body is rubber or plastic. The padding is rubber. Alternatively, thebody is a shell. The shell comprises a plurality of legs and a base. Thebody further comprises an angled interior for receiving the paintcontainer.

In another aspect, an apparatus for receiving, supporting and elevatinga paint container selected from various sizes of paint containerscomprises a body, a padding coupled to the body, a set of additionalpadding selectively inserted between the padding and the paint containerfor securing the paint container, an aperture within the padding forreceiving the paint container, a set of wheels for sliding the body anda mechanism for adjusting the height of the body, wherein the paintcontainer and the body are carried together using a handle of the paintcontainer. The apparatus further comprises one or more magnets coupledto the body for assisting in securing the paint container within thebody. The apparatus further comprises one or more fasteners forassisting in securing the paint container within the body. The paintcontainer and the body are able to be separated after the paintcontainer is received. The body is rubber or plastic. The padding andthe set of additional padding are rubber. Alternatively, the body is ashell. The shell comprises a plurality of legs and a base. The bodyfurther comprises an angled interior for receiving the paint container.

In yet another aspect, a method of receiving, supporting and elevating apaint container within a bucket stand comprises determining if the paintcontainer fits securely within the bucket stand, adding padding withinthe bucket stand to ensure the paint container fits securely within thebucket stand and inserting the paint container into the bucket stand.The method further comprises applying additional downward force on thepaint container to ensure the paint container is secured within thebucket stand. The method further comprises adjusting the height of thebucket stand. The method further comprises moving the paint containerand the bucket stand using a handle of the paint container. The methodfurther comprises removing the paint container from the bucket stand.The method further comprises sliding the paint container and the bucketstand using a set of wheels on the bucket stand. The bucket standcomprises an aperture for receiving the paint container and a bodycontaining the aperture, wherein the body utilizes friction to retainthe paint container. More specifically, the bucket stand comprises abody, a padding coupled the body, a set of additional padding insertedbetween the padding and the paint container for securing the paintcontainer, an aperture within the padding for receiving the paintcontainer, a set of wheels for sliding the body and a mechanism foradjusting the height of the body.

In another aspect, an adaptable paint bucket stand comprises a bodyshaped to receive a cylindrical paint container, a rubber paddingcoupled to the interior of the body for securing the paint containerwithin the body, a set of additional padding selectively insertedbetween the rubber padding and the paint container for further securingthe paint container, a plurality of legs coupled to the body wherein theplurality of legs are adjustable, a set of wheels coupled to the legsfor sliding the body, one or more magnets coupled to the body forassisting in securing the paint container within the body and one ormore fasteners for assisting in securing the paint container within thebody. The paint container and the body are able to be separated afterthe paint container is received. The set of additional padding isrubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the present invention with a bucket in the bucket stand.

FIG. 1C illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the present invention with a bucket in the bucket standusing additional padding.

FIG. 1D illustrates a side perspective view of the preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 1E illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the present inventionwith extendible feet.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of an alternative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention overcomes the prior art shortfalls by providing abucket stand that receives variable sized buckets, is separate from thebucket but is able to be temporarily coupled to the bucket, elevates thebucket and allows a user to carry the bucket and bucket stand together.

FIG. 1A illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the present invention. A bucket stand 100 includes a body102 and a circular aperture 104 wherein padding 106 is positionedbetween the aperture 104 and the body 102. Initially, the padding 106 isuncompressed. Furthermore, the padding 104 is any material thatfunctions according to the described implementation, and includes but isnot limited to rubber and a foam-like material. In particular, thematerial should have the ability to be compressed from its originalstate, but also a high recovery back to its original state. The padding106 is positioned such that when a bucket 110 is inserted within theaperture 104, the bucket 110 becomes wedged in the aperture 104, and thebucket 110 and bucket stand 100 are temporarily coupled due to frictionand the force of the compressed padding 106′ (FIG. 2). The padding 106is able to surround the entire inner circumference of the bucket stand100 or in some embodiments, the padding 106 is in the form of strips(not shown) within the bucket stand 100 placed to retain the bucket 110.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the present invention with a bucket 110 partially receivedin the bucket stand 100. When the bucket 110 is received within thebucket stand 100, the padding 106 is compressed against the body 102 ofthe bucket stand 100. As the bucket 110 is further inserted into thebucket stand 100, more of the padding 106 is compressed. The force ofthe compressed padding 106′ secures the bucket 110 within the bucketstand 100, so that a user is able to carry the bucket 110 and the bucketstand 100 together as they are temporarily coupled. Since the method ofcoupling the bucket 110 and the bucket stand 100 is based on frictionand not a permanent means, the bucket 110 is able to be removed from thebucket stand 100 when desired. To remove the bucket 110 from the bucketstand 100 the user simply pulls it out with additional force. Forexample, if a user inserts a can of paint into the bucket stand 100 toprevent having to bend over frequently while painting, but then afterthe job is finished, wants to clean out the can of paint, the user willnot have to awkwardly try to clean both the paint can and the bucketstand at once. The can of paint is removed first and cleaned separately.

FIG. 1C illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of the present invention with a bucket 110 in the bucketstand 100 using additional padding. To enable the present invention toreceive varying sizes of buckets such as a smaller bucket 110′, one ormore padding inserts 108 are able to be utilized. The padding inserts108 function similarly to the padding 106 of the bucket stand 100wherein the bucket 110 compresses the padding inserts 108 formingcompressed padding inserts 108′ and compressed padding 106′ so that thebucket 110 is held in place by friction. The padding inserts 108 areable to come in a variety of shapes and sizes to ensure that any sizedbucket is able to fit securely within the bucket stand 100. Not only dothe padding inserts 108 allow the bucket 110 to be secured within thebucket stand 100, since they are only temporary, the bucket 110 is stilleasily removed from the bucket stand 100 when desired.

FIG. 1D illustrates a side perspective view of the preferred embodimentof the present invention. As described above, the bucket stand 100,includes the body 102 which surrounds the padding 106 wherein theaperture 104 is within the padding 106. The bucket 110 (FIG. 1A) fits inthe aperture 104, within the padding 106, where it is securely held inplace.

FIG. 1E illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the present inventionwith extendible feet. A bucket stand 100′ with a set of extendible feet112 allows the bucket stand 100′ to be elevated to different heights.The functionality of the bucket stand 100′ is the same as that of thebucket stand 100, with the ability to be raised higher or lower off of asurface beneath the extendible feet 112. The extendible feet 112 areimplemented using a telescoping means or any other means which providesthe ability to change height such as screws which when twisted eitherretract or extend further out from the bottom of the bucket stand. Whenthe bucket stand 100′ does not need to be elevated, the set ofretractable feet 112 are able to be consolidated or shortened so thebucket stand 100′ has a minimal size.

In other embodiments, the extendible legs include wheels or casters(FIG. 4) to allow the bucket stand to slide across the floor. Locks arefurther included to enable the bucket stand to be locked in place toprevent it from continuing to slide when the user needs it stationary.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. In the step 200, a user inserts a bucket within abucket stand. If the bucket does not fit in the bucket stand, in thestep 202, then the user removes the bucket from the bucket stand, in thestep 204. The user then adds padding to the bucket stand until thebucket does securely fit, in the step 206. More specifically, theadditional padding is placed within the bucket stand around the edge tonarrow the circumference, and then the bucket is pushed down within thebucket stand. In the step 208, if the height of the bucket stand is notan adequate height, then the user is able to lower or raise the bucketstand as needed in the step 210. If the bucket and the bucket stand areto be moved to another location in the step 212, then the user is ableto move the bucket and bucket stand as a unit to that location in thestep 214. The user moves the bucket and bucket stand by grabbing thehandle of the bucket, and since they are coupled, the bucket and bucketstand are both moved. If the user is finished with his task and nolonger needs the bucket within the bucket stand in the step 216, then heis able to easily remove the bucket from the bucket stand in the step218. To remove the bucket, the user simply pulls it out using additionalforce while holding down the bucket stand. The user is able to continuethe process of modifying the height of the bucket stand and moving itaround as needed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of an alternative embodimentof the present invention. A bucket stand 300 includes a plurality oflegs 302, padding 304 and a base 306, hence just a shell or frame ofmaterial. The plurality of legs 302 are coupled to the base 304. By onlyincluding the plurality of legs 302, the weight of the bucket stand 300is even lighter as there is less material to lift. The padding 304 isattached to each of the legs 302 for receiving and securing a bucket 110(FIG. 1A). Similar to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,the bucket stand 300 is able to receive the bucket 110 (FIG. 1A) andremain temporarily coupled with it. Then, both the bucket 110 (FIG. 1A)and the bucket stand 300 are able to be carried together using thebucket handle. Although in this embodiment, less material is used toconstruct the bucket stand 300, it is still very sturdy and able towithstand jostling.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention. A bucket stand 400 includes a body402 and a circular aperture 404 where the aperture 404 has angled walls406. The angled walls 406 are angled such that when a bucket 110 isinserted within the aperture 404, the bucket 110 becomes wedged in theaperture 404 and the bucket 110 and the bucket stand 400 are temporarilycoupled due to friction. Initially, the bucket 110 enters the top of theaperture 404 where the aperture 404 is the widest. As the bucket 110travels further into the aperture 404, eventually the circumference ofthe bucket 110 equals the circumference of the aperture 404 due to theangled walls 406. Upon reaching this position, a slight downward forcefrom the top of the bucket 110 is required to secure the bucket 110 inplace. Furthermore, materials that provide additional friction are ableto be utilized to provide a more secure fit such as rubber or arubber-like material where the material is slightly compressed whenpushed down, while its elasticity pushes back against the bucket 110securing it in place. After being secured within the aperture 404, thebucket 110 and the bucket stand 400 are able to be carried as one unitto a different location. Since the aperture 404 has the angled walls406, buckets of a variety of sizes are able to fit within the bucketstand 400 without having to modify the bucket stand 400. The bucketstand 400 also utilizes a set of wheels 408 to permit easy movementacross a floor. To modify the height of the bucket stand 400, the wheels408 are extendible such that the bucket stand 400 is elevated. Inalternative embodiments, other aspects of the bucket stand 400 allow forthe height to be modified, such as the bucket stand 400 comprisingmultiple sections where a device is between the sections to elevate theupper section. Regardless of which implementation is used to elevate thebucket stand 400, by elevating the bucket stand 400, the bucket 110 isalso elevated, thus providing the bucket 110 at an even higherelevation. In alternative embodiments, the bucket stand 400 does nothave any wheels. In an alternative embodiment, the angled walls 404 haveridges, grooves or tabs for helping to secure the bucket 110 within thebucket stand 400.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an alternativeembodiment of the present invention. A bucket stand 500 includes a body502, an aperture 504, one or more fasteners 506, a movable base 508 anda magnet 510. The one or more fasteners 506 are coupled to the body 502of the bucket stand 500 for securing a bucket 110′ within the aperture504 of the bucket stand 500. The bucket 110′ rests on the base 508 andthen is pulled down or against the body 502 depending on the location ofthe fasteners 506. With the fasteners 506 as shown, the bucket 110′ ispulled towards the body 502 of the bucket stand 500. The fasteners 506are constructed of an elastic material coupled to a hook-like device.The elastic material stretches and the hook grabs the bucket 110′ suchas the fastener 506′. In other embodiments, other types of fasteners areused to secure the bucket 110′. The benefit of using an elastic fasteneris that it easily accommodates varying sizes of buckets. As shown, thesmall bucket 110′ is secured with the base 508 elevated by a set of pins512. For a larger bucket, the base 508 is able to be moved to the lowerset of pins 512. Therefore, many different sizes of buckets are able tobe retained within the bucket stand 500. In other embodiments, insteadof using the pins 512 to move the base 508, other implementations arepossible such as ridges (not shown) that the base 508 fits into. Formetal buckets, a magnet 510 is coupled to the base 508 for assisting inretaining the bucket within the bucket stand 500. Although the fasteners506 and the magnet 510 are specifically described in this embodiment,they are usable in the other embodiments as well.

To utilize the present invention, the bucket stand is prepared toreceive a bucket by adding padding so that the bucket fits securelywithin the bucket stand. Additional pressure is applied to ensure thebucket is secured within the bucket stand. Thereafter, the bucket andbucket stand are temporarily coupled and are able to be moved as oneunit wherein a user is able to grasp the bucket handle and move bothobjects. The bucket stand itself allows a user to position a bucket atan elevated height. Moreover with added functionality, the bucket standis able to change its height so that the bucket within the bucket standis reachable at varying heights. To modify the height, any number ofimplementations are possible, for example, the wheels are extendible toadd height. The wheels also provide sliding movement across the ground.In embodiments without wheels, feet and extendible legs are utilized toheighten the bucket stand. After a user is finished using the bucketwithin the bucket stand, he is able to remove the bucket by pulling itout, thus severing the temporary coupling.

An example is used herein to demonstrate the present invention accordingto the preferred embodiment in operation. A father and son are paintingthe walls of a room. The father is six feet tall while the son is onlyfour feet. The father allows the child to start painting, but before hedoes, they utilize the present invention to assist them. They place thepaint can within the bucket stand, but the paint can is too narrow tosecurely fit. So they remove the paint can and add additional padding sothat the bucket does securely fit. Furthermore, the paint can is pusheddown with adequate force so that the can not only is stationary, butwhen picking up the paint can by its handle, the bucket stand is alsopicked up. Since the son is much shorter than the father, the bucketstand is set at a lower height. Specifically, the bucket stand is set ata height so that the son is able to easily reach the paint can withouthaving to bend over. As the son finishes part of the wall, he needs tomove the paint can and bucket stand over. He is able to do this usingthe wheels of the bucket stand. However, when he reaches one corner ofthe room where there are some small objects in the way such that rollingthe bucket stand is not possible, the son is able to lift the paint canand bucket stand together as described above and move them around theobjects. The painting is thus able to continue without difficulty ofdisassembling or heavy lifting. Upon finishing the wall, the son quitsand the father resumes the painting. The paint can is still within thebucket stand, but at an inadequate height for the father. However, thebucket stand's height is able to be modified and set to compensate forthe father's height. After two walls are finished the paint can is emptyand must be replaced. The father is able to easily remove the paint canand properly dispose of it. An additional paint can is inserted and thefather finishes painting the room. After finishing, the father is ableto remove the second paint can and store it with the rest of the paintand not with the bucket stand still attached to it.

The bucket stand is preferably constructed of a material that is lightweight such as rubber or plastic and is able to come in any shape orsize. Preferably the shape and size are such that the bucket stand iseasily carried, yet able to hold a variety of sizes of buckets orcontainers. In some embodiments, the bucket stand is a large bucketcomprising the additional features to make it the bucket stand. Thebucket stand described herein is very sturdy and is able to withstandsignificant jostling without tipping over.

It should be understood that the present invention does not onlyfunction to retain buckets. Rather, any object of a substantiallycylindrical shape, such as a paint can, is able to be received by thebucket stand described herein.

Furthermore, although some embodiments comprise elements which otherembodiments do not, it should be understood that the components of thedifferent embodiments are interchangeably usable on all of theembodiments. For example, although the fasteners are not described withthe preferred embodiment, it should be understood that to further securethe bucket within the bucket stand, fasteners are able to be added.

The present invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding ofprinciples of construction and operation of the invention. Suchreference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is notintended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will bereadily apparent to one skilled in the art that other variousmodifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustrationwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the claims.

1. An apparatus for receiving, supporting and elevating a paint container comprising: a. an aperture for receiving the paint container; and b. a body containing the aperture, wherein the body utilizes friction to retain the paint container, the body comprising a plurality of legs.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a padding coupled to the body for securing the paint container within the body.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a set of additional padding to allow varying sizes of paint containers to be secured.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a set of wheels for sliding the body.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the set of wheels extend to adjust the height of the body.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a mechanism for adjusting the height of the body.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising one or more magnets coupled to the body for assisting in securing the paint container within the body.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising one or more fasteners for assisting in securing the paint container within the body.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the paint container and the body are able to be separated after the paint container is received.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the paint container and the body are carried together using a handle of the paint container.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is rubber or plastic.
 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the padding is rubber.
 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body is a shell.
 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the shell comprises the plurality of legs and a base.
 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body further comprises an angled interior for receiving the paint container. 16-32. (canceled)
 33. An adaptable paint bucket stand comprising: a. a body shaped to receive a cylindrical paint container; b. a rubber padding coupled to the interior of the body for securing the paint container within the body; c. a set of additional padding selectively inserted between the rubber padding and the paint container for further securing the paint container; d. a plurality of legs coupled to the body wherein the plurality of legs are adjustable; e. a set of wheels coupled to the legs for sliding the body; f. one or more magnets coupled to the body for assisting in securing the paint container within the body; and g. one or more fasteners for assisting in securing the paint container within the body.
 34. The adaptable paint bucket as claimed in claim 33 wherein the paint container and the body are able to be separated after the paint container is received.
 35. The adaptable paint bucket as claimed in claim 33 wherein the set of additional padding is rubber.
 36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the padding is coupled only to the plurality of legs. 